By Our Reporter

Nigeria’s drive to attract fresh investment into its gas industry received a boost with the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the $800 million Ima Gas Project, an offshore development expected to deliver up to 300 million standard cubic feet of gas daily.
The investment decision, which was welcomed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), is being viewed by the company as another indication that reforms in the upstream sector are beginning to improve the commercial prospects of gas projects.
Located across Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 112 and 117, the Ima project is being developed by AMNI International in partnership with TotalEnergies. At peak production, it is expected to provide feedgas to Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) for its Train 7 expansion.
The Train 7 project is designed to raise NLNG’s production capacity at Bonny Island from 22 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 30 Mtpa, increasing the country’s capacity to process and export liquefied natural gas.
NNPC said the Ima FID was made possible in part by the fiscal and regulatory measures introduced through the Presidential Directives of 2024. The measures included incentives for non-associated gas projects, faster contracting processes and steps aimed at reducing development costs.
The company said Ima is the fourth major gas project to reach FID under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following Iseni, Ubeta and HI.
NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the development as a “decisive vote of confidence” in Nigeria’s gas industry, saying the reforms had helped create more competitive investment conditions and greater predictability for investors.
Beyond the project’s expected gas output, NNPC highlighted the financing and partnership structure behind Ima as significant. The project brings together indigenous operator AMNI, international energy company TotalEnergies and players in Nigeria’s financial sector.
According to the national oil company, the combination offers a potential model for financing and delivering future upstream gas developments, particularly projects requiring substantial capital and technical expertise.
The development comes as Nigeria seeks to increase domestic gas supply for power generation and industry while strengthening its position in the international LNG market.
NNPC said it would continue working with the Federal Government, regulators and industry operators to sustain investment in the sector and unlock the country’s gas resources for industrial development, employment generation and long-term economic growth.